Update to my backyard green/bunker/teebox

[505]

Small teaser of my turf...

 

 

 

 

 

I got several samples from 6 different companies, and the above turf won out on all fronts. It looked the best to my eye after 10 years of marking/placing balls on real greens (and cutting them for 3).

 

On top of that, as part of the rigorous testing I did, I parked my car on my 4 favorite samples and let it sit there overnight. I then compared them based on how completely they popped back up when brushed, and how much brushing it took to do so. This stuff popped back up fully, with minimal brushing.

 

I was already planning on going with them for the fringe because it wasn't even close in this department. The other companies didn't have anything like this stuff... super realistic.

 

Top it all off with prices right there in the same ballpark as the other places, and free shipping... I was sold. Very excited to get to work on building the new setup.

[505]

Quick little update...

 

In one week of work, I managed to get the tree down with the help of a few buddies. We also got all of the wood sorted, logs stacked on the side yard for firewood, branches hauled away, and the old turf pulled up.

 

We are now working on removing the stump, and as soon as that is done we are moving onto digging out the new pond and grading the area under the new green.

 

Couple shots from the past week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should have another round of update pics here in a week or two.

 

[BNich0622]

This is so sweet. I want your back yard!!

[bigmoneyp]

Cool yard. It really would be nice to have a practice facility in your backyard. No excuses for not getting practice in. I am thinking about putting a practice green/pitching area in my basement if it isn't too expensive.

[bjfed]

Talk about ground under repair!!!

[505]

Update time.

 

Carpet gets here next week and we'll hopefully have the base prepped by then. Renting a ditch-witch and a plate compactor for this weekend so there will be a lot of progress if the weather cooperates. The war with the tree stump is over... it put up a good fight. lol.

 

Looking at some Par Aide Ever-White cups and will probably be ordering those today through the course I used to work at.

 

Pics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If all goes well we should be putting in a week and a half. Can't wait.

[oregongolf]

Jesus, that is some serious work (again, lol)

More progress pics please! We're all super jealous...

[PhilTickelson]

Holy crap, that was a gigantic tree you took down. This looks sweet, I can't wait to see the finished product.

[505]

[quote name='jon2' timestamp='1295466805' post='2908548']
Jesus, that is some serious work (again, lol)

More progress pics please! We're all super jealous...
[/quote]

Got all of the trenching done by hand today so no more need for the ditch-witch, laying water/power lines tomorrow, and picking up the compactor Friday morning. Picking up the rest of the crusher fine on Saturday, and I've got 5 buddies lined up to help me level the base over the weekend. Should be ready for carpet at that point (minus cups).

I'll have the next round of update pics Sunday night or Monday.

[quote name='PhilTickelson' timestamp='1295476925' post='2908920']
Holy crap, that was a gigantic tree you took down. This looks sweet, I can't wait to see the finished product.
[/quote]

40' tall and 70' diameter... gigantic indeed. Throw in the power lines and the house on opposing sides, and it was... shall we say... difficult. Haha. Precision dropping a tree that big was something I had never attempted. Glad we all made it out un-injured and didn't destroy anything.

[fore_life]

this is freaking awesome!

[CassinoNorth]

Get a trugolf Newport and you may never want to leave your backyard ever again.


Amazing stuff.

[505]

[quote name='CassinoNorth' timestamp='1295486735' post='2909280']
Get a trugolf Newport and you may never want to leave your backyard ever again.


Amazing stuff.
[/quote]

I need to raise the ceiling in the den to take full swings on a sim... but it IS in the longer term plans. Breaking ground on a fairly extensive remodel after we're done out back, and the den is room 3 on the list. Won't be going with anything quite as nice as a trugolf, but it will be a pretty cool setup when it's done.

Trying to get the house so I can practice everything here. Feelin' a big couple years coming on with the new setup. No more excuses. Haha.

[505]

Trenching for pump pit water/power lines done. Water line will be used for pond autofill.

 

 

 

Spigot is also being relocated.

 

 

 

Pond rough shape set.

 

 

 

Peter testing out the plate compactor.

 

 

 

Sub base packed and getting flatter.

 

 

 

Flatter.

 

 

 

Trenches filled.

 

 

 

More flatterer.

 

 

 

 

Pump pit dig started.

 

 

 

Crusher fines starting to get laid out.

 

 

 

 

After first dry pass with the compactor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall slope is bang on the money at 1.5 degrees. Should be wrapped up with the base by the time the carpet gets here Tuesday.

[505]

Only a couple more passes in the morning and we're fully done with the base. Just checked the tracking and the carpet is coming a day early... TOMORROW!!!

 

So pumped.

 

Picture time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hititbig2112]

THIS IS SOOOOO COOL. I would definitely do this except for one small thing. It would be under a foot of snow for 5 months out of the year.

[505]

[quote name='hititbig2112' timestamp='1295840660' post='2919830']
THIS IS SOOOOO COOL. I would definitely do this except for one small thing. It would be under a foot of snow for 5 months out of the year.
[/quote]

How about a patio style roof over it? Haha.

OT: One of my best friends is from Bozeman. /OT

[Talon_Bomber]

Are you in Albuquerque? I will gladly help out in your project for some time on that practice green!!

[505]

Yep I am in Abq. Where do you usually play?

[hititbig2112]

[quote name='505' timestamp='1295846378' post='2920030']
[quote name='hititbig2112' timestamp='1295840660' post='2919830']
THIS IS SOOOOO COOL. I would definitely do this except for one small thing. It would be under a foot of snow for 5 months out of the year.
[/quote]

How about a patio style roof over it? Haha.

OT: One of my best friends is from Bozeman. /OT
[/quote]

Who? I probably know him. Its a small town up here. haha

[505]

[quote name='hititbig2112' timestamp='1295912739' post='2921782']
[quote name='505' timestamp='1295846378' post='2920030']
[quote name='hititbig2112' timestamp='1295840660' post='2919830']
THIS IS SOOOOO COOL. I would definitely do this except for one small thing. It would be under a foot of snow for 5 months out of the year.
[/quote]

How about a patio style roof over it? Haha.

OT: One of my best friends is from Bozeman. /OT
[/quote]

Who? I probably know him. Its a small town up here. haha
[/quote]

Ben Whitmore. Pretty sure his sister Lora is still up there.

[hititbig2112]

[quote name='505' timestamp='1295914784' post='2921863']
[quote name='hititbig2112' timestamp='1295912739' post='2921782']
[quote name='505' timestamp='1295846378' post='2920030']
[quote name='hititbig2112' timestamp='1295840660' post='2919830']
THIS IS SOOOOO COOL. I would definitely do this except for one small thing. It would be under a foot of snow for 5 months out of the year.
[/quote]

How about a patio style roof over it? Haha.

OT: One of my best friends is from Bozeman. /OT
[/quote]

Who? I probably know him. Its a small town up here. haha
[/quote]

Ben Whitmore. Pretty sure his sister Lora is still up there.
[/quote]

Nope. haha. I guess he's one of few. The patio roof isn't a bad idea. I just figure I only have 2 more years here before I go to college, hopefully somewhere warm, and can play everyday.

[Talon_Bomber]

[quote name='505' timestamp='1295847527' post='2920063']
Yep I am in Abq. Where do you usually play?
[/quote]

Mostly on the AFB since I work there. It's cheap and never crowded. I have played pretty much everywhere on the east side. I live near Arroyo del Oso, so I play there a bit and use their chipping and putting greens to practice. How about you?

[505]

It started snowing on me otherwise I would still be out there, but the carpet came today. OMG this stuff is incredible. I knew it was going to be really nice, but now that it is rolled out, I am seriously blown away. It looks amazing... incredibly realistic.

 

Even without the base pad and any top dressing down yet, it is already 50 times better to chip onto than my old green was. The ball bites when you spin it and rolls out when you chip... again, incredibly realistic. It also putts like a dream... won't need to adjust the speed much at all, and the multidirectional nature of it means no major grain after it gets walked on (the old straight blade poly lays down one way when you walk on it).

 

Before I start to come across as some sort of salesmen, I want to say up front that I am just a happy customer here. This is by far and away one of the best golf related purchases I have ever made, and I feel that the product/business deserves a proper unbiased review here.

 

Dan and Diana at www.atpg1.com were fantastic to work with. My expectations were exceeded in the product and they were both always super friendly. I was probably kind of a pain in the *** to deal with in the beginning because I had about a million different questions and I wanted my project to turn out perfect. I knew that if I ended up with some cheap crappy turf I would be bummed about the whole yard, and sometimes you just never know when it comes to internet stuff.

 

I mentioned earlier that I had done a lot of research and ordered samples from 6 places. I also went to the only local place here in Albuquerque that installs putting greens and has a retail floor. The atpg1 P5100 "Double Eagle" was the best looking sample out of all of them. They didn't charge anything other than shipping for the samples (4 of the companies charged shipping + turf cost). They also sent an entire assortment of samples instead of just the one I asked for, and it was nice to compare the different types. The samples each had an attached business card, with a printed sticker on the back giving a full spec list for the turf. Very nice touch there and it definitely felt more professional than the other places.

 

I also mentioned earlier that I parked my car on my 4 favorites overnight and then tested how much they popped back up. I did this by parking the tire half-on and half-off of the sample. The turf from TJB inc was my second favorite up until this point, but it basically got crushed and wouldn't come back up. Maybe this wasn't a very fair test since my largest friend is only one-tenth of my Mazda, but I wanted to somehow try to quickly simulate wear and tear. The P5100 brushed right back up and you couldn't even tell which half was which.

 

The F2100 "True Fringe" is the only fake grass I have seen anywhere that looks anything like an actual fringe cut. Not much else to say here as it's pretty much in a class all by itself, and I knew I would be getting this for my project as soon as I saw it.

 

Once the vendor was picked, it took me awhile there to finalize my measurements and get my order figured out. Dan was great to talk to throughout this part and helped me hash out a couple things I was struggling with. Everything went smooth with the ordering process and it shipped out the following Monday morning (placed the order on a Friday evening). The cuts were all perfect and exactly what I ordered, and the turf arrived with not even a nick in it's double wrap packaging.

 

Can't say enough good things here but the snow is dwindling and I have a lot of cuts to make out there. I'll leave ya'll with some pics from this morning (haven't shot any this evening yet). Will update again tomorrow with some more progress pics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[505]

[quote name='Talon_Bomber' timestamp='1295916975' post='2921948']
[quote name='505' timestamp='1295847527' post='2920063']
Yep I am in Abq. Where do you usually play?
[/quote]

Mostly on the AFB since I work there. It's cheap and never crowded. I have played pretty much everywhere on the east side. I live near Arroyo del Oso, so I play there a bit and use their chipping and putting greens to practice. How about you?
[/quote]

Awesome probably seen ya out there then... I'm here kinda by Arroyo off of Wyoming and Comanche. Haven't played the base course here yet but hear it's a pretty fun little track.

As for the help on the project, we're pretty much done here other than cutting the turf... and not even my closest friend gets to touch that knife. Haha. How 'bout a trade involving getting me on the base course instead?

[Talon_Bomber]

[quote name='505' timestamp='1295919472' post='2922070']
[quote name='Talon_Bomber' timestamp='1295916975' post='2921948']
[quote name='505' timestamp='1295847527' post='2920063']
Yep I am in Abq. Where do you usually play?
[/quote]

Mostly on the AFB since I work there. It's cheap and never crowded. I have played pretty much everywhere on the east side. I live near Arroyo del Oso, so I play there a bit and use their chipping and putting greens to practice. How about you?
[/quote]

Awesome probably seen ya out there then... I'm here kinda by Arroyo off of Wyoming and Comanche. Haven't played the base course here yet but hear it's a pretty fun little track.

As for the help on the project, we're pretty much done here other than cutting the turf... and not even my closest friend gets to touch that knife. Haha. How 'bout a trade involving getting me on the base course instead?
[/quote]

Im sure we can work something out. The base course is descent. I was out there a few weeks ago and they were doing some remodeling (adding/taking out some traps). The greens are usually in as good or better shape than most of the courses around here, but the fairways and tee boxes are hit and miss.

If you ever want to hit the range sometime, let me know. I go out to balloon fiesta park about once a weekend (much better turf than Arroyo).

[LUMA]

Aaahahaa! Coming alone very nicely! Ide love to have that at my dispose. Short walk out the back door. Loving it.

[505]

[quote name='Talon_Bomber' timestamp='1295929285' post='2922497']

Im sure we can work something out. The base course is descent. I was out there a few weeks ago and they were doing some remodeling (adding/taking out some traps). The greens are usually in as good or better shape than most of the courses around here, but the fairways and tee boxes are hit and miss.

If you ever want to hit the range sometime, let me know. I go out to balloon fiesta park about once a weekend (much better turf than Arroyo).
[/quote]

Cool I'll definitely hit ya up.

[Blakester]

This project is my dream come true. You, Sir, are my hero.

[Virginia hacker]

Just stumbled on this thread. This is what makes this site fun and enjoyable. This should be sticked IMHO. Thanks so much for sharing this. You've done an outstanding job. Trees are always tricky so kudos to you on that job! Keep it coming.

[505]

Spent most of the day out there by myself, so it was a little slower going today. Hard to trace giant circles with nobody there to hold the other end of the compass. Haha. 2 more cuts and the green is done... then it's right onto the fringe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After I had the big curves done, I just had to get the base pad set. Couldn't wait. Had to do a little figuring first since the pad is 12' wide and the green carpet is 15' wide, but it ended up being perfect. Had exactly enough to give it a 5" border around the outside edge of the green, and all of the fringe/green seams will have full support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The feel of it under your feet with the pad is great. I had to kick off the shoes and walk around barefoot for a bit. The pad itself is super nice and I'm very glad I decided to go with it. It's made out of a ultra dense foam that sort of reminds me of a tempurpedic bed in the way it squeezes down and then returns. When I say ultra dense I mean ULTRA... it is 1/3rd of the green carpet in thickness, but weighed about twice as much. Because it is so heavy it really smoothed out all of the little tiny bumps and imperfections in the crusher, making an absolutely perfect base for the green. I have no doubt that when there is sand on top this thing is going to be completely perfect. :drinks:

 

Figured out the cup placements and hit a few pitches and then called it a day. Plan is for 9 cups, 1 full size flag, and 8 custom plugs that I'm going to build out of SS tube and plate (covering them with the pad/turf combo). This way I hopefully won't get sick of any hole placements over time, but they also won't be in the way of each other and it won't feel crowded. Pop a plug out and move the flag, or pop a few out when it's practice time. Something about a large-ish green with only one hole and a full size flag puts a smile on my face.

 

Will try to update again tomorrow, hopefully with pics of some fringe going in.